This bag is beautiful. Full Stop. Where to even begin with how versatile it is?
I had this See by Chloé ‘Mara’ bag on my wish list at various sites for ages and then when it went sale on sale at The Iconic I was practically making money buying it. Okay I wasn’t, but I like to think that with all those discounts on a luxury item with potentially a great resell price, you’re doing okay.
This is my second See by Chloé bag, my first being a bucket bag purchased a couple of years back that still looks like new today. I really believe this is one of those diffusion labels (See by Chloé is the sister label to French luxury brand Chloé) that punches above its weight in terms of quality and price. I do own a single Chloé bag (review coming shortly, make your popcorn) but unless it is the status of having or owning a particular luxury brand, you can do just as well with a diffusion line. Let’s look at some pros and cons.
Pros.
Everything. Did I mention everything? As a cross body shoulder bag, it’s versatile and comfortable. The dimensions are as follows:
- Min. Strap Length: 108cm / 42.5in
- Handle Drop: 48cm / 18.9in
- Depth: 9cm / 3.5in
- Max. Strap Length: 121cm / 47.6in
- Height: 18cm / 7.1in
- Width: 21cm / 8.3in
So it’s not big and bulky, but you can actually fit in quite a bit. I take a pencil case, wallet, phone, asthma meds, hand sanitiser, compact mirror most days, and still have room for more. Take a look at the video below to see the size against my body.
The leather is beautiful and is wearing surprisingly well considering this bag has so far come on everything from a play date to the supermarket to work. I’ve used a leather conditioner twice, plus a waterproofer just to keep her in tip top condition.
Another pro for me is the selection of colour ways. I was quite strategic when I chose this colour because I wanted a bag that would suit multiple outfits. The cream, tan and black tick so many boxes. If you aren’t a fan of this combination however, there’s everything from block colours to combinations. Burgundy, green, blue, black, beige and everything in between.
Cons
I’m going to be picky here but I guess I have to find something about the bag that you might not like!
If you like to have easy access to your phone, there’s no pocket on the outside of the bag in which to slide it. For some people, it might be annoying to have to open the bag if you want constant or easy access to a particular item. On the other hand, this could be seen as a safety benefit if you don’t want your phone to be visible or easily swiped out of your bag. But I’m meant to be giving you cons.
Wait I’m thinking.
Oh ok, the bag can only be worn as a long shoulder or cross body bag. A lot of brands will do a combination, or at least give you the option of a shorter strap. The strap is adjustable, but it’s long, again have a look at the video to see me wearing it as a cross body. If it’s a shoulder bag you’re after, keep walking.
The chain/charm/logo on the front of the giant gold ring could be annoying to some. Chloé and in turn See by Chloé love their hardware, so I guess if you’re buying the bag because of brand recognition you’d know this and be ok with it. I’m 100% on board for hardware on my accessories. If it’s a sleek Botega-esq look you’re going for then this ain’t it.
All in all, for the price I think the Mara bag is a great investment. It will work for you in terms of cost per wear and outfit choice, in the main because of the tri-colour way. The materials are excellent quality, and rival any luxury purchase you might be thinking of bar say a handmade Burkin or equivalent. It’s a yes from me.
